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Mark Cuban stepped in to be POTUS on 'Sharknado' when Trump took too long to join the cast

Aug. 2, 2017 7:27pm

Could billionaire Mark Cuban be President Donald Trump's successor in the Oval Office?

In the world of Sharknado, it already happened. In January 2015, the makers of Sharknado approached Trump to play the POTUS for the second sequel to Syfy's Sharknado series, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"The Donald said yes," David Latt, co-founder of the company behind the Sharknado series, told The Hollywood Reporter.

A contract was drawn up and sent to Trump attorney Michael D. Cohen. But weeks of silence prompted the production company to turn to its backup plan, offering the role to Cuban.

Contacted by The Hollywood Reporter, Cohen acknowledges a dinner with Sharknado leading man Ian Ziering to discuss casting Trump but says he has no recollection of the correspondence. Ziering, a former cast member on The Apprentice, recommended Trump for the role after negotiations with former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin fell through, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

As for Cuban, he played the POTUS in Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!with campy zest, gunning down flying CGI sharks raining on the White House.

In an appearance at New York's "Ozy Fest" last month, Cuban relished the idea of challenging Trump if he runs for re-election in 2020.

"If he lasts four years, I'll be there to kick his a**," Cuban said. In February, Trump tweeted that Cuban wasn't up to the challenge.

Plan your week

As part of its Sharknado Week, Syfy is showing Sharknado 3 at 9 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, leading up to the premiere of Sharknado 5: Global Swarming at 7 p.m. Sunday.